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A New  Note 

in  the 

Christmas  Carol 


By 

Clara  Wood  Mingins 


Published  by 

The  Sherwood  Company 
New  York  City 
1913 


Copyright  by  the 
SHERWOOD  COMPANY 
New  York 
1913 


PRINTED  BY 

The  ULLMAN  PRESS,  Inc. 


201  WILLIAM  ST. 
NEW  YORK 


Vv 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  PAGE 

I.  Memories 1 

II.  Growing  in  Grace 6 

III.  Christmas  Plans 11 

IV.  Maddie 17 

V.  Where  is  Dorothy 23 

VI.  Christmas  Candles 29 


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I. 


MEMORIES. 


“It  came  upon  the  midnight  clear, 
That  glorious  song  of  old, 

From  angels  bending  near  to  earth 
To  touch  their  harps  of  gold.” 


So  sang  the  clear,  full,  childish  voice.  Singularly 
melodious,  thrilling,  sympathetic,  it  floated  up  and 
- out,  seeming  to  envelope  in  a tender,  joyous  har- 
v mony  all  who  came  within  its  range. 

In  the  library  “Father  dear”  sat  with  pen  sus- 
pended and  moistened  eyes,  as  the  notes  of  the 
Christmas  Carol  were  borne  in  upon  him.  The 
thronging  memories  carried  him  back  to  that  won- 
derful Christmas  morning  eight  years  before,  when 
the  sweet  singer  was  born.  . 

She  had  come  in  a flood  of  golden  sunlight,  when 
Christmas  bells  were  chiming,  happy  voices  singing, 
V and  the  joy  of  life  seemed  rampant  upon  all  the 


2 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


earth.  The  “doctor  friend”  had  come  to  him  in  this 
same  library  and  had  said: 

“The  Christmas  day  has  brought  to  you  and  your 
house  God’s  blessing — the  gift  of  a little  child.” 

Together  they  had  gone  to  that  quiet,  peaceful 
room,  and  found  mother  with  the  baby  girl  upon 
her  arm.  “A  tiny  image  of  your  own  dear  self,” 
he  had  fondly  said,  and  with  the  passing  years,  the 
child  had  kept  that  strong  likeness  to  her  mother, 
both  in  character  and  features. 

Later  he  had  gone  about  the  house  attending  to 
the  many  things  they  had  planned  for  others.  Like 
two  children,  they  had  always  kept  many  of  the 
Christmas  customs:  hung  up  their  stockings,  had 
a huge  Christmas  tree  for  all  the  household,  re- 
membering every  one  in  a way  that  would  bring  the 
most  real  joy,  given  to  each  child  friend  some 
longed  for  treasure,  fed  the  birds  and  put  a lighted 
candle  in  the  window  to  guide  the  Christ  Child. 
Each  Christmas  they  had  tried  to  bring  comfort  to 
some  sorrowing  heart,  sharing  their  joy,  letting 
their  light  shine.  . 

Everywhere  he  had  turned  that  day,  he  had  been 
met  with  smiling  faces,  hearty  hand  clasps,  and 
more  than  one  fervent  “God  bless  you,  sir,”  from 
hearts  that  could  tell  of  burdens  lifted  or  eased, 
and  of  lives  turned  from  bitterness  to  sweetness. 
Truly,  it  had  been  a day  of  rejoicing. 

At  sunset  he  had  sat  with  the  little  mother  again, 
telling  her  about  the  day  as  together  they  watched 
from  her  window  the  ever  changing  glory  of  the  sea. 
“No  sorrowing  one  has  knocked  at  our  door  to-day,” 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


3 


he  said  gently,  “our  Christmas  candle  has  brought 
only  joy.”  And  she  had  softly  quoted : 

“Then  be  ye  glad,  good  people, 

This  night  of  all  the  year, 

And  light  up  all  your  candles, 

For  His  star  it  shineth  clear.” 

Cuddling  their  baby  close,  she  had  looked  with 
shining  eyes  from  the  child  to  him  and  said  ear- 
nestly, “She  is  a little  Christmas  Star,  Who  knows 
what  message  of  joy  she  brings,  what  midnight 
gloom  she  may  dispel?” 

Then  he  had  gone,  at  her  request,  to  light  the 
Christmas  tree,  and  the  countless  candles  through- 
out the  house,  had  given  loving  greetings  and  mes- 
sages from  her  and  baby  to  all  the  household 
gathered  in  the  big  hall  and  had  stopped  to  sing 
one  Christmas  Carol  that  she  might  hear.  It  was 
as  his  voice  soared  upward  to  her, 

“Peace  on  earth,  good  will  to  man, 

From  Heaven’s  all  gracious  King,” 


that  she  had  gone,  gone  on  the  wings  of  light  and 
song,  leaving  him  dumb,  alone  in  the  dark. 

Later,  Jeanie,  faithful  friend,  had  brought  to 
him,  “the  wee  Lassie,  sir,”  and  drawing  the  shades 
high,  had  flooded  the  room  with  moonlight;  then 
left  him  alone  with  his  little  comforter. 


4 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


Long  he  had  stood  looking  out  on  the  golden  path 
of  light  and  glory  that  seemed  to  stretch  from  the 
great  Beyond,  across  the  sea,  through  the  window, 
and  to  encircle  him  and  the  tiny  daughter,  his  bless- 
ing, his  joy,  his  little  “Christmas  Star.”  She  had 
indeed  lighted  him  through  the  dark  way,  com- 
forted him,  helped  him  to  accept  the  cup  of  sorrow 
with  fortitude. 

She  had  been  christened  “Dorothy”  for  her  grand- 
mother, and  had  grown  in  grace  and  beauty.  There 
had  been  no  lack  of  loving  care,  willing  hearts  and 
hands  had  served  her;  first,  for  love  of  the  mother, 
who  gave  her  birth,  later  for  love  of  herself. 

The  song  ceased.  Then  quick  dancing  footsteps, 
the  opening  and  closing  of  the  library  door,  and  the 
singer  was  by  his  side.  Throwing  her  arms  about 
his  neck,  she  covered  his  face  with  kisses.  Stepping 
back  and  holding  his  face  between  her  hands,  she 
looked  long  and  lovingly  at  him.  “Father,  dear, 
I have  kissed  the  sorry  lines  all  away  except  those 
back  of  your  eyes.”  Then  settling  herself  in  his 
arms  she  fell  silent, — still  for  a time. 

“Father,  dear,  the  Christmas  Carols  seem  always 
to  make  you  sorrowful.  I have  noticed,  too,  when 
we  sing  the  carols  in  church,  that  so  many  people 
look  sad.  Often,  I have  seen  tears  in  their  eyes. 
Only  the  children  look  really  happy.  Why  is  that, 
father?” 

“It  was  a message  of  joy  that  came  upon  the  mid- 
night clear,  wasn’t  it?”  Then  nestling  closer,  she 
went  on  softly : “You  know  I was  singing  the  carol 
to  mother  just  now,  the  one  she  loved  the  best, 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


because  I could  just  feel  her  happy  thought,  and  T 
wanted  to  be  happy  with  her,  then  suddenly,  T 
thought  you  would  be  remembering,  so  I came.” 

A thoughtful  pause,  and  then — “I  wonder  why 
she  seems  so  far  away  to  you!  Perhaps  you  shut 
her  out  thinking  that  she  is  dead,  and  don’t  under- 
stand that  she  is  with  us  in  the  thought  of  love  she 
left  all  about  us.  You  know  that  is  what  mother 
lettered  her  own  self  over  the  center  window  in 
my  nursery,  ‘God  is  Love.’ 

“Jeanie  said  she  watched  her  paint  it  and  the 
other  one  too : ‘Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid,’  and  while 
she  painted,  she  explained  to  Jeanie.  Sometimes, 
it  seems  as  if  I could  hear  her  explaining  to  me. 
Of  course,  I can  not  tell  what  she  says, — it  isn’t 
words  exactly, — but  it’s  just  as  if  that  love  were 
a great  white  cloud,  wrapping  me  round  and  round 
wherever  I am,  and  holding  me  safe  from  harm, — 
like  your  arms,  father,  dear.  You  see, — love  is  just, 
— why  it’s  everything.  Jeanie  says,  ‘love  never 
dies.’  ” 

The  twilight  shadows  were  falling  fast  around 
them,  but  the  Bethlehem  Star  of  peace  and  joy  had 
risen  in  both  their  hearts.  Father  dear  had  caught 
a new  note  in  the  Christmas  Carol.  “Love  never 
dies.” 


II. 


GROWING  IN  GRACE. 

Dorothy  had  finished  her  lessons  and  was  sitting 
in  the  deep  window  seat  in  the  nursery,  looking 
out  upon  the  water,  and  listening  to  the  voices  of 
the  waves  as  they  dashed  against  the  shore. 

She  was  on  friendly  terms  with  all  her  world, 
the  flowers,  the  trees,  and  every  dancing  sunbeam 
held  a language  for  her. 

Horses,  dogs  and  birds,  every  living  thing  that 
came  into  her  life  became  her  friends. 

Her  loving  confidence  in  her  fellow  beings  won 
from  each  the  best  he  had  to  give. 

So  carefully  had  she  been  kept  from  all  self-pity 
and  the  tearful  sympathy  of  unwise  friends  that 
she  was  in  every  way  a wholesome,  happy,  winsome 
little  lassie. 

There  was  no  room  in  all  the  house  that  Dorothy 
loved  quite  so  well  as  her  own  dear  nursery.  Here 
she  always  came  to  dream  her  dreams,  or  study  out 
her  weighty  problems. 

This  was  the  room  that  mother  dear  had  thought 
out  for  her,  before  ever  she  was  born.  Every  detail 
spoke  silently,  but  eloquently,  to  the  child’s  mind 
of  harmony  and  purity,  of  true  uplifting  ideals. 

The  artistic  coloring  of  walls  and  rugs,  the  few 
pictures  chosen  for  their  real  value  and  lasting 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


T 


impressions;  the  wide  outlook  on  sea  and  sky  and 
garden,  together  with  everything  that  could  make 
for  health  and  comfort,  voiced  the  wise  and  loving 
care  of  the  mother  whose  tender  eyes  looked  down 
from  above  the  mantel  at  the  little  dreamer  in  the 
window  seat. 

Suddenly,  the  door  burst  open  and  Lois,  a child 
about  a year  younger  than  Dorothy,  bounded  in, 
while  just  behind  and  fairly  tumbling  over  her 
came  a great  white  dog,  a Scotch  collie  called  Rings, 
because  of  a buff-colored  ring  of  hair  around  his 
tail. 

In  a moment,  quiet  had  taken  flight,  and  a game 
of  hide  and  seek  was  in  full  swing.  Rings  had 
played  this  game  since  puppy  days,  he  knew  all  the 
best  hiding  places,  and  he  knew  just  how  long  to 
search  before  discoveries  were  in  order.  Gravely 
he  walked  about  poking  his  nose  into  possible  covers 
and  then  away  he  dashed  to  the  goal  amid  peals 
of  laughter.  Jeanie  dropped  her  sewing  to  enjoy 
the  sport. 

Father,  entering  the  house  with  the  doctor  re- 
marked: “We  are  evidently  just  in  time  for  the 
fun.”  They  joined  the  players  in  the  upper  hall 
and  away  they  all  streamed  to  the  play  room  with 
Rings  in  hot  pursuit. 

Racing  through  the  school-room,  they  swept  the 
little  German  music  master  off  his  feet.  But  he  had 
not  forgotten  his  boy  days  and,  dropping  hat  and 
gloves,  was  after  them.  Timothy,  guide,  philoso- 
pher and  friend,  and  incidentally  manager  of  the 
estate,  coming  in  from  the  greenhouse  with  flowers, 


8 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


deposited  his  precious  burden  in  the  arms  of  a maid, 
and  took  the  stairs  in  leaps.  Timothy  had  assisted 
in  the  merriment  ever  since  Dorothy  could  ride  on 
his  shoulder,  holding  fast  to  his  curly  hair.  The 
frolic  spread  all  over  the  house. 

Lois  was  found  hiding  behind  a stately  footman. 
The  doctor  was  dragged  by  Rings  from  under  the 
dining-room  table.  Father  stowed  himself  on  the 
top  shelf  of  the  linen  press,  nearly  causing  Rings 
to  turn  himself  inside  out  in  his  effort  to  get  at  him. 
Timothy  lost  himself  in  a cubby-hole  in  the  attic 
and  had  to  be  rescued,  for  the  door  had  no  inside 
latch.  The  fun  was  brought  to  a breathless  climax, 
when  Bridgie,  the  cook,  hid  Dorothy  in  a great 
boiler  and  no  one  could  find  her.  * * * 

The  doctor  looked  wistfully  after  Jeanie  as  she 
went  up  the  wide  stairs  with  a dancing  child  cling- 
ing to  either  hand.  “That  is  a pretty  picture,”  he 
said  to  Mr.  Douglas;  “you  should  be  a happy  man, 
for  you  have  caused  some  sorrowing  ones  to  rejoice. 
Jeanie,  now — it  is  ten  years,  is  it  not?  I thought 
that  night  you  called  me  to  come  quickly,  I had 
never  seen  a face  so  sad.  Jeanie  is  all  that  is  noble, 
God  bless  her !” 

“Yes,”  said  Mr.  Douglas,  “think  what  she  has  been 
to  us.  My  wife,  Stella,  talked  to  her  by  the  hour 
before  Dorothy  was  born,  told  her  all  her  plans, 
hopes  and  fears.  It  was  Stella  who  insisted  that 
the  old  tradition  of  the  Christmas  Candle  had  a 
great  significance,  ‘the  light  could  guide  no  ill  to 
us.’  ” 

“Yes,  we  have  been  priviledged  to  dry  some  of  the 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


9 


tears,  open  the  blinds  for  a few  so  that  the  sunlight 
might  come  in.  But  think  of  the  blessing  brought 
to  us.  Look  at  Timothy,  and  Bridgie ; could  money 
buy  the  influence  that  is  thrown  about  Dorothy? 
When  I think  of  all  they  do  for  me  and  mine,  I 
feel  that  I have  done  very  little.” 

“How  about  that  little  Lois?”  asked  the  doctor. 

“She  is  another  blessing.  Jeanie  came  upon  the 
child  in  the  city  (living  with  a Mrs.  MacDonald, 
who  did  fine  sewing)  and  in  time  learned  her  story. 
It  seems  that  Mrs.  MacDonald’s  brother,  who  was 

a sailor  on  the  steamship  M (lost  about  six 

years  ago,  you  remember),  rescued  this  child.  The 
passengers  were  picked  up  by  several  vessels  and 
widely  separated.  This  sailor  took  the  child  at 
first  to  a sister  in  Scotland  and  afterwards  to  Amer- 
ica in  his  search  for  her  parents.  He  made  every 
effort  to  find  them,  but  grew  discouraged  as  time 
went  on  and  he  found  no  clue.  Mrs.  MacDonald 
felt  that  the  child  should  have  advantages  they 
could  not  give,  and  they  were  sorely  troubled. 

“They  called  her  Lois,  because  of  the  initials  L.  O. 
I.  S.  on  a handkerchief  bound  around  the  little 
wrist.  It  was  the  only  mark  about  her,  except  the 
beautiful  clothing. 

“Well — you  know  the  rest.  It  was  something 
I could  do,  so  here  she  is,  and  royally  welcome.  If 
we  never  find  her  parents,  we  will  try  and  make 
good  her  loss. 

“Dorothy  is  right.  She  says  it  is  ridiculous  for 
one  little  girl  to  have  as  much  as  she  does,  and 
‘M other  dear  would  want  us  to  share.’ 


10  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

“By  the  way,  doctor,  Christmas  plans  are  in  the 
air;  stay  and  hear  about  them. 

“I  will  indeed/’  said  the  doctor,  as  they  turned 
toward  the  library  door.  “Do  you  know,”  the  doctor 
continued,  “that  of  all  lonesome  things  on  the  face 
of  the  earth  a bachelor’s  lot  at  Christmas  time 
seems  the  very  essence  of  dreariness?” 

The  words  were  spoken  jestingly,  but  there  was 
an  undercurrent  of  intense  pathos  in  them,  that 
made  Mr.  Douglas  lay  his  hand  lovingly  on  his 
shoulder  as  he  said,  gravely:  “I  believe  you  are 
right,  my  friend;  I am  a rich  and  happy  man,  not 
only  in  the  possession  of  present  blessings,  but  in 
the  precious  memories  of  past  joys.  I think  this  is 
going  to  be  the  very  best  Christmas  of  all  my  life, 
because  I am  learning  a little  of  true  gratitude.” 

“It  is  going  to  be  a rough  night,”  said  Mr.  Doug- 
las, as  he  turned  to  the  window  and  looked  out  into 
the  gathering  darkness  and  noted  the  white  flakes 
falling  on  the  window-ledge  outside.  “The  gray 
clouds  have  been  settling  down  all  day,  the  wind  is 
rising  rapidly,  and  there  is  every  indication  of  a 
heavy  storm.  There  promises  to  be  plenty  of  snow 
for  the  Christmas  frolic.” 

Then,  drawing  the  shades,  he  drew  two  comfort- 
able easy  chairs  before  the  fire,  just  as  the  children 
came  tripping  in. 


III. 


CHRISTMAS  PLANS. 

“Well,”  said  the  doctor,  “let  us  hear  about  the 
Christmas  plans.  I feel  perfectly  certain  that  I 
shall  have  to  go  to  the  city  and  offer  assistance  to 
Santa  Claus.  Every  year  it  turns  out  that  some 
little  boy  or  girl  gets  up  Christmas  morning  to  an 
empty  stocking  and  no  one  wants  such  a thing  to 
happen.” 

“Why,  that’s  just  what  we  want  to  do — give  a 
really  merry  Christmas  to  some  of  the  sorry  ones,” 
and  Dorothy  plunged  into  the  subject.  “You  know 
last  summer  there  were  some  children  in  this  neigh- 
borhood, ‘Fresh  air  children,’  they  were  called. 
Jeanie  brought  one  of  them,  a little  girl,  Maddie 
Morrison,  over  here  to  see  if  any  of  my  dresses 
would  fit  her.  We  played  with  her  in  the  garden 
a long  time.  She  said  she  wanted  to  live  here  al- 
ways, because  it  was  so  quiet,  she  ‘could  hear  her 
own  feet  walking.’ 

“Do  you  know,  Maddie  had  never  seen  flowers 
growing  out  of  doors  and  never  had  rolled  on  the 
grass.  It  was  the  way  she  talked  of  her  home,  and 
the  way  she  lived  with  her  grandmother,  that  made 
us  plan  to  have  a Christmas  time. 

“It  is  just  as  lovely  in  the  country  in  the  winter 
as  it  is  in  the  summer,  and  so  different.” 


12  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

“The  air  is  just  as  fresh,”  broke  in  Lois,  and  they 
all  laughed  while  Rings  drew  a little  nearer  to  the 
crackling  grate  fire. 

“The  people  who  invited  the  children  last  sum- 
mer,” Dorothy,  full  of  her  cherished  plans,  went 
on,  “have  invited  them  this  Christmas  time.  The 
children  are  coming  one  week  before  Christmas  day 
and  stay  until  after  the  New  Year.  We  are  plan- 
ning to  have  two  weeks  of  happy  days;  snow-ball- 
ing, sleighing,  making  snow  men  and  forts,  and,  oh ! 
all  kinds  of  winter  games. 

“Every  one  is  going  to  do  something  to  give  them 
a good  time.  Mrs.  Grant  is  going  to  invite  them  to 
her  house  to  pop  corn,  Mrs.  Waring  is  going  to 
show  them  some  beautiful  pictures  and  have  a 
moonlight  ride,  father  says  Lois  and  I may  invite 
them  to  a candy  pull,  and  give  a party  Christmas 
afternoon.  We  are  going  to  have  a Santa  Claus 
hunt. 

“There  will  be  a gift  hidden  about  the  house  for 
each  child  and  he  or  she  must  find  it.  It’s  going 
to  be  a happy  time  for  every  one.” 

“Is  there  to  be  a Christmas  tree?”  asked  the 
doctor. 

“Not  at  the  party;  Christmas  eve  and  Christmas 
morning  are  to  belong  to  their  hostess.  She  is  to 
see  about  the  tree  and  hanging  the  stockings  and 
the  surprises,  and  all  that,  just  as  if  it  were  her 
own  little  boy  or  girl.” 

“The  only  thing  that  spoils  it  a little  is, — we  can’t 
find  Maddie  Morrison,”  broke  in  Lois.  “She  does 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  13 

not  live  where  she  used  to  and  we  planned  to  have 
her  with  us.” 

The  doctor  leaned  suddenly  forward,  his  face  all 
aglow  with  eagerness,  as  he  exclaimed : “That’s  just 
what  I’ve  been  waiting  for,  some  definite  instruc- 
tion from  Santa  Claus.  I’m  going  in  search  of 
Maddie.  She  shall  have  all  these  good  things  that 
have  been  planned  for  her.”  Then,  with  an  expres- 
sion of  utter  bewilderment,  he  questioned:  “Am  I 
to  send  her  by  parcel  post  or  just  bring  her  in  my 
suit  case,  or,  will  she  be  able  to  travel  like  any 
ordinary  little  girl,  when  she  hears  of  the  wonder- 
ful two  weeks?” 

A burst  of  laughter  was  their  only  reply. 

“Very  well,”  he  said,  “but  I shall  certainly  find 
Maddie  if  she  is  findable.” 

“When  you  find  her  bring  her  to  us,”  said  Mr. 
Douglas,  “and  we  will  see  that  she  has  proper  cloth- 
ing— that  is  the  arrangement  for  each  child.” 

“No !”  the  doctor  declared,  “ ‘finding  is  keeping.’ 
I shall  fit  her  out  myself.  Perhaps  Jeanie  can  be 
persuaded  to  come  with  me  and  see  how  well  I know 
what  a little  girl  needs.  Why  shouldn’t  I have  a 
stocking  hung  up  in  my  chimney,  a Christmas  tree 
on  my  hearth,  a Christmas  candle  in  my  window?” 
he  demanded  smilingly. 

“We  have  worked  very  hard  and  long  to  earn  our 
part  for  the  Christmas  surprise  for  the  city  chil- 
dren,” continued  Dorothy. 

“Worked!  Earned!  Why,  what  did  you  work 
at  and  how  did  you  earn  anything?”  the  doctor 
asked,  incredulously. 


14  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

“Do  tell  us,”  father  begged.  “I  knew  something 
was  going  on,  but  I have  waited  to  be  told  about  it.” 

“Well,”  said  Dorothy,  “you  know  if  we  did  not 
put  ourselves  into  it  somehow,  it  would  not  be  a 
true  gift.  We  are  not  very  big  and  cannot  make 
many  things  that  would  be  of  any  real  value,  and 
we  have  only  the  money  father  gives  us.  We  have 
saved  nearly  all  of  that ” 

“And,”  Lois  interrupted,  “I  put  in  the  flve-dollar 
gold  piece  Father  Douglas  gave  me,  because  I rout- 
ed the  ‘think  you  can’ts,’  and  learned  to  play  the 
scales.” 

“Yes,  and  we’ve  found  out  that  the  ‘think  you 
can’ts’  are  really  ‘don’t  want  tos,’  ” Dorothy  ex- 
plained earnestly.  “Sometimes  I don’t  even  want 
to  want  to,”  she  added  pensively.  “Jeanie  told  us 
she  knew  just  the  thing  for  us  to  do.  Jeanie  said, 
if  we  would  do  certain  things  which  meant  a great 
deal  more  to  us  and  others  than  money,  we  could 
have  all  we  needed  and  know  we  had  earned  it ” 

“And,”  chimed  in  Lois,  “I  just  know  we  earned 
it.” 

“What  were  some  of  the  things?”  asked  father. 

“Why,  the  truly  smiling,  when  you  wanted  to 
cry;  and  thinking  kindly  about  people  who  seem 
not  so  very  pleasant ; trying  to  understand  how 
they  feel;  being  patient  and  willing  and  cheerful 
and  obedient;  without  any  ‘wait  a minutes,’  or  ‘I’d 
rather  nots,’  or  ‘whys,’  ” both  children  excitedly 
explained. 

“Jeanie  says  ‘whys’  are  all  right,  but  its  wise  to 
remember  the  ‘musts/  You  know,  reading  pages 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


15 


of  French,  that  have  no  story  in  them,  and  playing 
the  exercises  that  make  your  fingers  strong  but  have 
no  tune,  and  learning  ‘ six  times’  so  you  know  it 
anywhere  you  begin,”  sighed  Lois.  “Seems  to  me 
I earned  as  much  as  a dollar  learning  ‘six  times.’  ” 

“I  am  certain  you  did,”  sympathized  father. 

“And  you  know,”  went  on  Dorothy,  “it  wasn’t  the 
just  looking  pleasant,  it  was  the  feeling  pleasant. 

“I  always  wanted  Jeanie  to  curl  my  hair,  and 
Mary  can  do  it  just  as  well,  and  Jeanie  is  often 
busy,  so  I was  sure  Mary  pulled,  and  Mary  was  cer- 
tain she  did  not  intend  to  pull,  and  we  were  both 
troubled,  until  Jeanie  said  there  was  a tangle  that 
l alone  could  untangle. 

“Now  I like  Mary  to  curl  my  hair,  and  she  is  so 
kind  and  funny.  We  are  going  to  keep  on  working, 
and  Jeanie  says  we  will  have  a big  bank  account 
by  the  end  of  another  year.” 

The  pause  that  followed  was  a thoughtful  one. 
It  was  broken  by  the  doctor  asking:  “Has  anyone 
heard  Jeanie  express  any  Christmas  desires?” 

“I  asked  her  what  she  would  like  me  to  give  her,” 
said  Dorothy,  “and  she  said,  ‘I  would  like  your 
undivided  attention  to  your  sewing  about  half  an 
hour  each  day.’  She  said,  ‘that  would  be  a gift 
worth  having.’ 

“It’s  very  hard  to  sew;  I seem  to  find  so  much 
to  interest  me  somewhere  else,  when  I should  be 
sewing — birds  and  clouds  out  of  the  window — and 
fairy  stories  in  the  grate  fire.” 

“Rings  always  wants  to  play  when  it’s  sewing 
time,”  chuckled  Lois,  “and  then  my  needle  gets  lost. 


16  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

Seems  to  me  Jeanie  will  have  a Christmas  present 
every  day  in  the  year. 

The  doctor  rose,  swinging  Lois  to  his  shoulder, 
declaring  he  must  go  home  and  prepare  for  the 
morrow’s  trip  to  the  city,  and  murmured  something 
about  “offering  Jeanie  his  undivided  attention  ev- 
ery day  in  the  year.” 


IV. 


MADDIE. 

The  doctor  took  an  early  train  to  the  city  and 
spent  the  best  part  of  the  forenoon  trying  to  find 
someone  who  knew  anything  of  the  whereabouts  of 
Maddie  Morrison.  He  learned  that  the  grand- 
mother had  died  some  time  in  August,  that  she  was 
a quiet  old  body,  keeping  much  to  herself,  and  no 
one  knew  anything  of  the  child.  Almost  discour- 
aged, while  waiting  for  a car,  he  asked  a big  police- 
man if  he  could  give  any  information.  He  remem- 
bered “the  little  red-headed  girl,  the  sunlight  mak- 
ing a glory  of  her  hair.”  “Yes,  they  took  her  to  an 

asylum.”  He  thought  it  was  the  one  in  B 

Street,  and  there  the  doctor  found  her. 

The  matron  was  not  at  all  sure  about  the  doc- 
tor’s right  to  see  the  child,  but  bless  you,  the  doctor 
had  no  doubts,  and  was  so  convincing  that  after 
much  talking  and  telephoning  a satisfactory  ar- 
rangement was  reached. 

Maddie  did  not  seem  to  be  a very  great  favorite 
at  the  asylum.  She  had  aired  very  decided  opin- 
ions as  to  “orphum  ’sylums.”  From  what  the  doc- 
tor could  gather,  Maddie  had  somewhere  gleaned 
the  idea  that  she  was  an  individual  with  the  right 
to  live  and  grow  according  to  the  dictates  of  her 
sunny-hearted  nature. 


18  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

She  had  grown  restive  under  the  constant  sur- 
veillance, and  in  a fit  of  exasperation  she  had  told 
the  matron  she  was  “tired  bein’  chased  round.  If 
it  wasn’t  a woman  mad  ’cause  she  had  too  much  to 
do,  marching  her  round,  it  was  a big  girl  puttin’ 
on  airs,”  “and  she  wasn’t  no  roach  to  be  routed  out 
and  ’sterm’nated.” 

When  pressed  for  an  explanation  by  an  irate  ma- 
tron, she  had  drawn  a very  vivid  picture  of  the  de- 
struction of  roaches  in  the  tenement  where  she  had 
lived,  and  the  “board  o’  health  man”  who  had  said, 
“you  got  to  rout  ’em  out.  Keep  right  after  ’em  till 
you  ’sterm’nate  ’em  out.”  So  “somebody  was  al- 
ways shooin’  ’em  out  o’  one  place  into  another,  like 
you  do  the  orphums  here.” 

“She  really  is  a very  troublesome  child,”  said  the 
matron ; “why,  last  Thursday  an  officer  came  to  the 
door  at  two  o’clock  in  the  morning  to  say  there  was 
a child  on  the  fire  escape.  He  thought  she  might 
be  walking  in  her  sleep.  When  I reached  there, 
with  my  heart  in  my  mouth,  I found  Maddie,  in  her 
night  clothing,  with  the  thermometer  at  zero,  calm- 
ly looking  at  the  sky,  and  not  one  word  of  explana- 
tion can  anyone  get  out  of  her,  except  that  she 
wanted  to.” 

“Then  you  would  not  call  her  a promising  child,” 
suggested  the  doctor. 

“No — that  is — the  child  is  a care;  she  is  not  tract- 
able. We  have  one  hundred  children  here,”  and  the 
matron  threw  out  her  hands  in  a most  telling  gest- 
ure. 

“One  hundred  children!”  murmured  the  doctor, 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  19 

and  turned  from  her,  for  something  hurt  his  throat. 

The  next  moment  Maddie,  who  had  wanted  to 
“hear  her  own  feet  walking,”  was  with  them.  A 
slip  of  a child,  perhaps  seven  years  old,  with  a 
frightened,  anxious  little  face,  that  broke  into 
dimpling  smiles  when  the  doctor  lifted  her  to  his 
knee  with  a “Well,  Maddie,  I have  come  to  take  you 
home  with  me,  to  the  Christmas  jollification,  you 
know.” 

Maddie  did  not  know,  but  she  was  willing  to  take 
him  on  trust.  She  held  fast  to  his  finger,  and  leaned 
her  bright  head  against  him,  while  he  put  on  her 
shabby  little  coat  that  did  not  fit,  and  the  shabbier 
little  hat.  The  matron  looked  at  him,  half  smiling, 
and  then  at.  Maddie  with  perplexity. 

“It  is  just  a little  helpless  child  after  all,”  she 
thought.  Then,  taking  the  bonny  face  between  her 
hands,  she  stooped  and  kissed  her.  “Be  a good  girl, 
dear, — I hope  you  will  be  happy.” 

It  was  here  that  Maddie  made  her  explanatory 
apology.  “I  will  be.  I couldn’t  be  happy  here,  you 
see — ’cause — I wasn’t  used  to  bein’  a ’sylum  orphum 
— I was  born  the  other  kind  of  a orphum — they’re 
different  and  always  has  a granny — and  a lap — 
and ” 

“Yes,  I know,  dear,”  replied  the  matron,  looking 
very  red  and  teary,  and  ready  to  laugh  all  at  once, 
while  the  doctor  shook  hands  in  a haven’t-a-mo- 
ment-to-spare  sort  of  a way,  and  hurried  the  small 
prattler  away. 

They  found  Jeanie  waiting  at  the  store  with 
everything  ready  for  the  trying  on.  Jeanie,  who 


20  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


seemed  to  know  all  about  little  girls — and  doctors. 
Then  followed  a most  exciting  time.  Maddie  hard- 
ly knew  just  what  happened,  but  dusk  found  her 
with  the  doctor  and  Jeanie,  homeward  bound.  No 
one  would  ever  have  suspected,  to  see  her  then,  that 
she  knew  aught  of  “ ’sylums.” 

“Tell  me,  Maddie,”  said  the  doctor,  “what  were 
you  doing  on  the  fire  escape  at  midnight?” 

“I  was  talkin’  to  God,”  she  answered,  quite  sim- 
ply. “You  see,  before  granny  died,  she  said  to  me : 
‘Maddie,  dear,  be  sure  and  remember,  God  will  take 
care  o’  you.  Now  don’t  forget  it,’  she  said,  ‘just 
keep  remeniberin,’  God  will  take  care  o’  you.’ 

“You  see,  granny  forgot  ’bout  God — she  told  me 
so — and  she  wanted  me  to  be  different.  When  I 
got  to  the  ’sylum,  I tho’t  He  didn’t  live  there,  tho’ 
they  did  read  ’bout  Him  outen  a book  every  morn- 
in’,  and  before  we  et  we  shut  our  eyes  and  said 
somethin’  sounded  like  ‘ou — wou — wo — wou,’  they 
said  it  so  fast,  I never  knew  just  what  they  was 
talkin’,  but  they  called  it  ‘thanking  God.’  I just 
kept  rememberin’,  God  will  take  care  o’  you,  but  it 
seemed  like — He — maybe  didn’t. 

“Then,  when  they  sent  me  to  bed  ’cause  I told  ’em 
they  all  acted  sif  orphums  was  to  be  ’stirm’nated 
like  bugs — I s’pose  bein’  in  bed  so  long,  ’fore  it  was 
night,  T woke  up,  ’fore  it  was  day,  and  got  to  think- 
in’ — He  had  forgot  all  about  me,  ’cause  granny  had 
forgot  about  Him. 

“I  went  out  on  the  fire  ’scape,  so  I could  get  a 
little  nearer  to  Him,  and  told  him,  nice  and  .p’lite, 
for  I don’t  believe  God  likes  to  be  wowed  at : ‘God, 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


21 


I reely  ain’t  no  roach,  and  I don’t  want  to  be  ’ster- 
m’nated.  I am  that  little  girl  wot  you  made ; please 
don’t  be  mad  to  granny  any  more  ’cause  she  forgot 
’bout  you.  She  was  sorry.’ 

“Then  I told  God  some  things  ’bout  granny.  How 
tired  she  was,  how  hard  she  worked,  scrubbin’  and 
washin’ — an’  she  was  old — and  her  bones  was  stiff ; 
and  I told  God,  ‘Granny  never  told  no  lies,  not  for 
fair.  Just  play  lies,  you  know,  like  when  we  didn’t 
have  anythin’  to  eat,  she’d  say,  “Well,  I guess  we’ve 
been  eatin’  too  much  roast  duck  and  fixin’s,  an’  we 
better  fast  ’til  morning,”  and  then  she’d  hold  me 
in  her  lap  and  we’d  laff  ’bout  the  duck  not  settin’ 
well  in  our  stummicks.’ 

“After  ’while  she’d  say  in  a sort  of  a tuney  talk- 
in’ way: 

‘I’ve  got  Maddie  and  Maddie’s  got  me, 

High  O!  High  O! 

For  the  world  we  don’t  care  a fiddle-de-dee, 
Since  I’ve  got  Maddie  and  Maddie’s  got  me, 
High  O ! High  O !’ 

“I  told  God  there  wasn’t  no  laps  to  the  ’sylum, 
and  would  He  please  take  care  o’  me  quick.” 

The  troubled  blue  eyes  lifted  to  the  doctor’s  face 
made  him  gather  her  suddenly  into  his  arms 
and  ask,  “What  is  wrong  with  this  lap?”  With  her 
curly  red  head  against  his  shoulder  they  talked  of 
more  joyous  happenings.  The  new  shoes,  with 
“shiny  tips,”  the  kid  mittens  with  snappers  to  make 
them  stay  shut,  the  wonderful  things  they  had  seen 


22  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

in  the  shops,  the  doll  that  sat  wide-eyed  on  the  arm 
of  Jeanie’s  chair. 

After  a long,  dreamy  pause,  Maddie  sat  erect,  and 
putting  her  hands  on  the  doctor’s  shoulders,  she 
looked  long  and  earnestly  into  his  strong,  kindly 
face.  Slowly  a light  came  into  her  eyes  and  she 
said : “God  ain’t  forgot  me.  He  sent  you.  Granny 
said  I was  to  ’member,  ‘God  will  take  care  o’  you,’ 
and  He  did!” 

“Yes,  Maddie,”  said  the  doctor,  softly,  and  again, 
“Yes!  yes!” 

The  head  with  its  bobbing  curls  was  back  on  his 
shoulder,  the  weary  eyelids  drooping. 

“She  is  off  to  dreamland,”  the  doctor  thought, 
when  she  roused  again: 

“P’raps  He  will  take  care  o’  granny;  she  was 
sorry.” 


V. 


WHERE  IS  DOROTHY? 

While  the  world  looked  like  fairy-land,  glisten- 
ing, sparkling  in  the  glowing  sunshine,  the  city  chil- 
dren came.  They  were  whisked  away  to  the  differ- 
ent homes  amid  the  jingling  of  sleigh  bells,  each 
person  preferring  the  long  way  round. 

Then  followed  days  of  joyous  happenings.  It  was 
Christmas  weather,  and  there  was  snow  enough  for 
all  the  wonderful  plans  for  winter  games.  The 
grown  people  as  well  as  the  children  entered  into 
the  festivities  and  good  times  reigned  supreme. 

Dorothy  and  Lois  twinkled  about  like  sunbeams. 

Father  was  kept  busy  answering  questions  and 
telling  over  and  over  again  Christmas  stories,  tra- 
ditions and  legends. 

Lois  and  Dorothy  had  admired  again  each  gift 
and  hidden  them  for  the  Santa  Claus  hunt  on 
Christmas  day. 

Dorothy  whispered  to  father  in  one  ear  and  Lois 
whispered  in  the  other,  until  father  was  certain  the 
whispers  were  tangled  in  the  middle  of  his  head. 
Timothy  said  the  house  was  so  full  of  secrets,  he 
expected  to  step  on  them. 

Jeanie  locked  the  school-room  door  and  put  the 
key  in  her  pocket,  and  though  everyone  had  ap- 


24  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

proached  her  on  the  subject,  no  one  was  any  the 
wiser. 

The  doctor  flew  in  to  talk  to  Jeanie  and  flew  out 
again  with  such  an  air  of  importance  that  Jeanie 
looked  thoughtfully  after  him. 

The  candy  pull  was  over  and  had  been  a great 
success,  each  child  spending  the  afternoon  in  sticky 
ecstasy. 

“Isn’t  it  wonderful  how  many  lovely  things  hap- 
pen every  day?”  said  Dorothy  to  Timothy,  who  was 
sitting  with  a little  girl  on  each  knee,  demanding 
to  be  told  things. 

“It  will  be  Christmas  day  in  three  days,  Doro- 
thy, and  your  birthday.” 

“And  I play  it’s  mine,”  Lois  interrupted  Tim- 
othy, “because  I don’t  really  know,  and  sailor  Tom 
said  he  thought  I must  have  been  born  about  De- 
cember.” 

“Why  not?”  said  Timothy;  and  some  day  you 
will  know.  Just  because  ships  are  lost,  there  is  no 
rhyme  nor  reason  in  talking  about  people  being 
lost;  meantime,  there  are  two  Christmas  candles 
shining  here.” 

“Doctor  says  he  is  going  to  have  Maddie  for  his 
Christmas  candle;  doesn’t  she  look  like  a real  one 
in  her  white  dress  and  that  hair?”  Dorothy  en- 
thused. 

“She  does,”  Timothy  admitted.  “She  will  no 
doubt  shine  in  more  ways  than  one.  She  may  need 
some  snuffing ; candles  get  into  the  way  of  sputter- 
ing if  they  are  not  well  cared  for.”  A pause,  while 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  25 


the  black  and  blond  heads  rested  contentedly 
against  Timothy’s  broad  shoulder. 

“Do  you  think,  Timothy,”  and  the  blond  head 
lifted,  “I  am  beginning  to  shine  a little  clearer,  the 
way  mother  dear  would  want  me  to?” 

“You  do  indeed,  sweetheart,”  and  Timothy’s  eyes 
were  very  soft  just  then.  “You  see,  a happy,  laugh- 
ing little  girl,  who  is  always  sharing  her  joy,  is  very 
like  a clear  light,  a twinkling  star — one  feels  better 
just  to  know  she  is  there.” 

“Tell  something  about  me,”  demanded  Lois. 

“It’s  a good  little  candle,”  and  Timothy  dropped 
a kiss  on  the  glossy  black  head.  “It  burns  more 
steadily  every  day.  Seems  to  me,”  thoughtfully, 
“I  have  heard  no  crying  for  some  time ; tears  have 
such  a way  of  extinguishing  the  light. 

“But  it’s  Christmas  secrets  I’m  waiting  to  hear,” 
said  Timothy,  all  animation,  and  while  they  assured 
him  they  could  not  tell  anything,  confided  to  him 
all  the  important  secrets. 

Hand  in  hand  they  took  him  through  the  house, 
showing  him  the  exact  spot  where  each  treasure  was 
to  be  found.  Up  into  the  tower  they  climbed  to  see 
the  candles  to  be  lighted  Christmas  eve.  “Lois’ 
shines  out  over  the  land,  and  mine  shines  out  over 
the  sea,”  said  Dorothy. 

For  a time  they  stood  looking  out  over  the  white 
world.  “We  will  have  more  snow,”  said  Timothy, 
as  they  turned  to  go,  and  the  children  greeted  the 
announcement  with  joy. 

“Timothy,  will  you  play  snowball  with  us  this 


26  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

afternoon?  The  children  will  be  here  about  one 
o’clock,  and  we  want  to  make  a snow  man.” 

“Well,”  said  Timothy,  “just  let  me  catch  anyone 
so  much  as  thinking  of  playing  without  me!” 

It  was  voted  the  very  best  afternoon’s  fun.  There 
seemed  to  be  as  many  grown  people  as  children. 
Everyone  played  with  zest,  all  were  boys  and  girls 
together.  The  snow  man  looked  as  if  he  would  walk 
away. 

Timothy  and  the  doctor  chose  sides,  and  then  fol- 
lowed a snowball  match  that  would  be  remembered 
for  many  a day  by  old  and  young. 

“It’s  snowing!  It’s  snowing!”  chanted  Maddie, 
and  the  children  took  up  the  cry. 

“Looks  like  a big  storm,”  said  father,  and  while 
the  children  shouted  and  danced  in  the  fast  falling 
snow,  the  sleighs  were  brought  out  and  prepara- 
tions for  getting  home  were  quickly  made. 

Down  the  long  winding  driveway,  through  the 
gate,  the  merry  party  went  to  the  music  of  the  sil- 
ver bells  and  happy  laughter;  while  after  them, 
throwing  a last  snowball,  trooped  Lois,  Dorothy, 
Timothy,  Maddie,  Mr.  Douglas,  Jeanie  and  the  doc- 
tor. 

Faster  and  faster  whirled  the  snow,  until  the 
sleighing  party  was  lost  to  sight  and  those  on  foot 
turned  back.  Everybody  hurried  away,  the  doctor 
and  Maddie  went  home,  father  and  Timothy  remem- 
bered things  that  must  be  done,  Jeanie  to  see  about 
dry  clothing  for  the  children. 

Half  an  hour  later,  Lois  ran  into  the  library  call- 
ing, “Dorothy !” 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 


27 


“She  has  not  been  here,”  said  Mr.  Douglas,  and 
Lois  went  to  Jeanie.  It  soon  became  apparent  that 
Dorothy  was  not  in  the  house.  No  one  could  re- 
member just  when  they  had  seen  her  last. 

“She  is  so  taken  up  with  Maddie,  she  may  have 
gone  on  with  the  doctor,”  suggested  a maid. 

But  no,  she  had  not.  It  was  discovered  that 
Rings  was  also  missing. 

“It  is  not  like  Dorothy  to  go  anywhere  unless  I 
know,”  said  Jeanie,  looking  white  and  troubled. 

“It  is  an  exciting  time,”  Mr.  Douglas  excused; 
“she  probably  got  into  one  of  the  sleighs.”  But 
after  everyone  had  been  telephoned  to  and  still  no 
trace,  serious  alarm  took  possession  of  them. 

By  eight  o’clock  it  was  known  throughout  the 
place  that  Dorothy  Douglas  was  missing.  Men  left 
their  warm  firesides  and  breasted  the  wild  storm. 

Mr.  Douglas  never  rested,  seeming  with  brain, 
heart  and  hand  to  accomplish  the  work  of  two  men. 

Timothy  was  everywhere,  advising,  encouraging, 
hoping. 

Lights  burned  all  night  in  the  windows  of  rich 
and  poor  alike. 

Mothers  looked  often  at  their  sleeping  children, 
and  prayed  for  the  little  one  lost  in  the  storm. 

The  doctor,  tireless,  was  directing  someone,  some- 
where throughout  all  the  anxious  hours.  With 
frightened,  sobbing  little  Lois  in  his  arms,  he  had 
walked  the  floor,  soothing,  comforting,  until  she 
forgot  her  fears  and  slept. 

Fires  were  kept  up,  hot  blankets  in  readiness, 


28  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

steaming  drinks  and  food  for  the  exhausted  search- 
ers were  always  ready. 

Everywhere  people  listened,  longed,  prayed  for 
the  signal  agreed  upon,  the  ringing  of  the  church 
bells  that  would  tell  them  Dorothy  Douglas  was 
safe. 


VI. 


CHRISTMAS  CANDLES. 

Morning  dawned,  but  no  slightest  trace  of  the 
little  wanderer  had  been  found.  Many  of  those  who 
had  toiled  all  night  stood  in  groups  talking. 

“It  was  a wild  night,”  said  one. 

“The  wires  are  down  and  trains  stalled,”  said 
another. 

“It  seems  as  though  we  had  done  everything  we 
could,  and  yet  one  hardly  knows  how  to  stop,  to 
just  sit  and  wait,”  mourned  Mr.  Wright,  the  min- 
ister. He  was  white  and  worn  with  the  anxiety  of 
the  night  and  he  made  no  effort  to  hide  his  tears. 
He,  like  many  others,  loved  Dorothy  Douglas.  “She 
is  as  dear  to  me  as  my  own  child,”  he  said  earnestly. 

“It  was  in  that  blinding  storm  that  she  probably 
was  bewildered  and  walked  no  one  knows  how  far.” 

“I  cannot  understand  why  we  found  no  trace  of 
the  dog ; he  would  have  made  an  effort  to  get  help. 
No  one  seems  to  have  heard  him  even  bark  or  howl.” 

“At  any  rate,  the  dog  would  stay  with  her ; I am 
glad  she  was  not  all  alone.” 

“Has  anyone  thought  of  the  sea?”  suggested  a 
man ; “we  have  searched  so  thoroughly  and  so  long, 
and  it  was  less  than  an  hour  before  at  least  a dozen 
people  were  looking  for  her.” 


30  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

No  one  spoke  for  a time.  Everyone  had  thought 
of  the  sea  and  everyone  had  resolutely  put  the 
thought  aside. 

“It  is  too  awfully  cruel  to  think  of,”  and  a young 
man,  a mere  boy,  suddenly  put  his  head  against  the 
porch  pillar  and  sobbed.  He  was  employed  about 
the  Douglas  estate. 

Judge  Lorimer  laid  his  arm  about  the  lad’s  shoul- 
der and  bent  his  splendid  white  head  close  to  the 
rough  brown  one. 

“I  know  just  how  you  feel,”  he  assured  him,  “why 
we  cannot  have  it.  The  little  white  blossom,  al- 
ways defending,  sheltering,  comforting  someone.” 

“She  just  made  life  over  for  me,”  continued  the 
lad;  “you  know  I was  about  down  and  out  when 
I went  begging  Mr.  Timothy  to  give  me  a chance. 
I can  see  her  now,  nothing  but  a baby — made  me 
think  of  a bit  of  thistle-down  with  the  sun  shining 
on  it.  ‘Boy,’  she  said,  ‘come  and  have  some  dinner, 
then  you  won’t  feel  so  sorry’ — I was  fair  starved 
I tell  you.  She  took  hold  of  my  hand  and  led  me 
to  the  house.  ‘Bridgie,  don’t  forget  to  give  him  a 
big  plate  of  pudding,’ — and  it’s  been  that  way  ever 
since.” 

So  they  talked  of  little  Dorothy.  Each  had  some 
tender  memory.  “She  belongs  to  the  community ; in 
her  estimation  everyone  is  good  and  kind ; she  never 
saw  anything  but  the  angel  side;  she  has  been  a 
little  Christmas  messenger,”  sorrowed  an  old  man. 

“What  they  are  going  to  do  at  her  own  home,  I 
can’t  think.” 

“Has  anyone  seen  Mr.  Douglas?  He  has  grown 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  31 

old  since  yesterday;  and  Timothy — I could  hardly 
bear  the  look  in  the  man’s  eyes.” 

A tall,  handsome  man,  who  had  been  a silent  lis- 
tener, spoke,  and  at  the  sound  of  his  voice  every  one 
turned.  “Let  us  not  give  up  hope,”  he  said.  “I 
know  we  cannot  think  of  anything  more  to  do  just 
now;  still,  let  us  think  of  her  alive.  We  will  ac- 
complish more.” 

“That  is  Mr.  Stanley,”  said  the  judge  to  a friend 
at  his  side;  “built  the  big  house  on  the  Point,  you 
know ; only  reached  here  last  night.” 

******* 


It  was  Christmas  eve.  Stockings  were  filled  and 
Christmas  trees  were  trimmed,  for  little  children 
slept  in  expectation  of  a joyous  to-morrow. 

No  cheering  news  had  come  to  the  waiting  hearts 
in  Dorothy’s  home.  Mr.  Douglas  paced  back  and 
forth  in  his  library,  while  outside  of  the  closed 
door  the  doctor  kept  time  with  the  weary  walker. 

Timothy  spoke  softly  to  the  doctor:  “There  is  a 
Mr.  Stanley  here.” 

Mr.  Douglas  was  with  them  instantly.  “Bring 
him  to  the  library,  Timothy — come  in  doctor — per- 
haps  ” 

Mr.  Stanley  came  forward  with  outstretched 
hand.  “Mr.  Douglas,  understanding  your  sorrow 
as  I do,  though  a stranger  to  you,  let  me  try  to  com- 
fort you.  Let  me  heg  of  you  to  keep  up  your  cour- 
age. So  many  things  could  have  happened  that 
none  of  us  even  suspect.  I know  it  is  better  for  all 


32  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

concerned  that  you  believe  that  the  child  is  safe. 
Why  take  it  for  granted  that  evil  has  befallen  her? 
Is  not  God  our  very  present  help  in  trouble? 

“The  storm  is  over,”  he  assured  them;  “I  think 
before  morning  much  of  the  damage  will  be  repaired 
and  we  will  be  in  touch  with  the  outside  world 
again.” 

Mr.  Douglas  resumed  his  restless  walk.  “Doro- 
thy is  by  nature  a timid  child;  I cannot  think  of 
her,  alone.” 

Suddenly  a little  figure  reached  his  side,  soft 
hands  clasped  his,  and  Maddie  demanded : “Did  you 
forget  God?  Granny  did — she  was  sorry — she  told 
me  ‘God  will  take  care  o’  you!’  and  He  did.  Did 
you  tell  Dorothy,  ‘God  will  take  care  o’  you?’ 
’Cause  if  you  did,  she  will  know  about  it  and  won’t 
be  afraid.” 

Timothy  drew  the  little  girl  to  his  side.  “Mad- 
die,” he  said,  “Dorothy  knows  God — she  has  always 
known  Him.”- 

“Then,”  said  Maddie,  “let’s  not  be  frightened  any 
more.  He  will  take  care  o’  her.” 

Mr.  Douglas  sat  down  with  a new  light  in  his  eyes, 
“Yes,  Maddie,  God  will  take  care  of  her,  I am  cer- 
tain He  will.  She  understood  so  well — and  in  her 
own  way  explained  to  me, — ‘Love  never  faileth.’  I 
had  forgotten.” 

The  doctor  leaned  forward  and  patted  his  old 
friend’s  hand. 

Timothy  stole  softly  up  to  the  tower  and  lighted 
the  Christmas  candles. 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  33 


Mr.  Stanley’s  eyes  rested  longingly  on  Maddie. 
“Somewhere,”  he  said,  “I  have  a little  daughter.  I 
have  not  seen  her  for  about  six  years.  I have  gone 
around  the  world  following  clues,  but  because  I 
think  as  Maddie  does,  I am  still  expecting  to  find 
her. 

“My  wife  and  I were  on  the  ill-fated  Steamship 

M . We  were  picked  up  by  different  vessels  and 

for  a time  each  believed  the  other  lost.  The  baby  we 
have  never  found.  My  wife  thinks  a sailor  took  the 
baby  when  helping  her  into  the  life-boat.” 

Mr.  Douglas  leaned  forward  and  looked  earnestly 
into  the  wonderful  eyes  of  the  speaker. 

“How  old  was  the  child?” 

“Nine  months.” 

“Was  there  any  distinguishing  mark  about  her?” 

“We  hope  so.  The  baby  had  put  her  arm  in  some 
tea  and  my  wife  tied  her  handkerchief  around  the 
little  arm  to  keep  the  wet  sleeve  from  touching  it. 
The  handkerchief  had  the  initials  L.O.I.S.  in  the 
corner.”  The  doctor  and  Mr.  Douglas  rose  simul- 
taneously. 

“I  believe  your  quest  is  at  an  end.  The  child  is 
here,  in  my  house,  has  been  for  a long  time.” 

“My  child,  here ! How  good  God  is !”  Mr.  Stan- 
ley’s face  was  radiant. 

Questions  and  explanations  followed,  then  Mr. 
Douglas  took  him  to  the  nursery,  but  counseled  as 
little  excitement  as  possible,  as  Lois  had  had  a most 
trying  day. 

Surrounded  by  everything  that  love  could  provide, 


34  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

Lois  slept  in  Jeanie’s  arms,  her  dark  head  pillowed 
against  Jeanie’s  cheek. 

“So  this  is  our  baby,”  he  murmured  as  he  stood 
looking  through  a mist  of  tears  upon  the  beautiful 
little  face.  Then  stooping  down,  he  gathered  the 
sleeping  child  in  his  arms,  holding  her  close  in  one 
long,  clinging  embrace. 

Brokenly  he  expressed  his  gratitude  and  hurried 
away  on  his  mission  of  love. 

At  midnight,  Timothy  in  the  tower  looked  out 
over  a world  glistening  in  the  moonlight. 

“The  earth  in  solemn  stillness  lay, 

To  hear  the  angels  sing,” 

he  quoted  softly  to  himself.  Then,  hushed  by  the 
very  presence  of  that  love  which  had  winged  the 
angel  song  of  old,  his  fears  grew  still,  and  the  peace- 
ful assurance  that 

“No  harm  could  come  to  her 
On  ocean  or  on  shore” 

was  born  in  his  heart.  Renewing  the  little  candles, 
he  recalled  her  face  all  alight,  as  she  said:  “My 
candle  shines  out  over  the  sea,  and  Lois’  over  the 
land,”  and  then  he  remembered  that  love’s  light 
shines  out  so  far  and  wide  that  none  may  drift  “be- 
yond His  love  and  care.” 

In  the  nursery,  the  room  that  Dorothy  loved, 
Jeanie,  her  face  white  with  suffering,  stood  before 
the  illuminated  text  which  she  had  so  often  read  to 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  35 


the  child,  as  she  held  her  little  quivering  form  in 
her  arms,  quieting  the  baby  fears,  and  assuring  her 
of  the  all-loving  care  of  the  heavenly  Father. 

“Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid!” 

It  is  a command,  she  had  impressed  upon  Dorothy 
— “Mother  dear  wanted  you  to  understand  and 
obey.”  To-night,  Jeanie  is  battling  with  her  own 
fears,  but  the  loving  command,  with  its  promise, 
does  its  work,  as  it  so  often  has  before. 

“Thou  shalt  not  be  afraid  for  the  terror  by  night, 
For  He  shall  give  His  angels  charge  over  thee, 

To  keep  thee  in  all  thy  ways.” 

There  is  no  fear  in  love,  and  Jeanie,  obedient, 
listening,  heard — the  terror  is  withdrawn. 

In  the  library,  father  dear  kept  his  lonely  vigil. 
Only  the  fire-light  dispelling  the  gloom.  But  two 
sentences  ring  in  his  ears : — 

“God  is  love!” 

“Love  never  faileth!” 

The  doctor  friend,  walking  back  and  forth  in  the 
wide  hall,  found  his  feet  keeping  time  with  the  song 
in  his  heart — 

“God  will  take  care  o’  her! 

God  will  take  care  o’  her !” 

Hurried  footsteps  on  the  walk — someone  bounded 
up  the  steps;  the  old  butler,  Robert,  was  at  the 


36  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

door  before  the  bell  sounded.  The  messenger’s  face 
was  all  aglow:  “Telegram — Mr.  Douglas;”  thrust- 
ing the  yellow  envelope  into  the  man’s  hand,  he 
was  off  like  a shot.  Robert  never  knew  just  how 
he  reached  the  library.  He  was  faint  with  fear, 
torn  with  apprehension. 

“Dorothy  safe!  Hope  to  get  through  to-night. — 
Stanley.” 

Mr.  Douglas  read  and  re-read,  and  his  voice  rang 
out  as  it  had  not  for  years.  Robert  knew,  for  he 
had  served  in  his  father’s  house. 

Out  in  the  hall  the  household  waited — tearful, 
hushed.  The  doctor  stood  on  a chair  and  read  the 
telegram  to  them,  while  the  clanging  of  the  bells 
told  far  and  wide  the  glad  tidings.  What  did  not 
willing  hands  and  happy  hearts  do  with  those  bells? 
How  they  talked,  laughed,  danced,  exulted! 

Timothy,  hastening  to  the  station,  wondered  if 
no  one  had  gone  to  bed  that  night.  The  telegraph 
operator  told  him  that  Mr.  Stanley  had  sent  out 
the  last  telegram  that  had  gone  through  the  night 
of  the  storm. 

The  coast  for  miles  had  been  watched.  He  had 
had  wireless,  searchlights,  vessels,  lighthouses  and 
the  life-saving  stations  all  at  work.  “He’s  a great 
man ! Nothing  he  has  not  thought  of.  Told  me  to 
keep  still — no  use  adding  to  the  heartache.  I don't 
know  just  what  he  did  say  or  do,  but  he  made  me 
know  it  was  all  right.  He’s  made  every  one  want 
to  work  their  heads  off.  He  was  off  last  night  on 
the  first  engine  that  got  through  to  the  city. 
“Couldn’t  wait  for  wires,”  he  said  to  me;  “you’ll 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  37 

know  what  to  do  when  you  get  a message” — and 

I did. 

“Listen — there  she  is!” 

The  shrieking  of  an  engine — long — loud.  It 
seemed  as  though  no  one  breathed  until  the  engine 
rounded  the  curve,  and  then  cheer  after  cheer  rent 
the  air.  No  one  knew  what  they  did  after  that, 
until  the  doctor’s  voice  rose  above  the  din: 

“A  clear  path,  my  friends,”  and  like  magic  it  was 
made. 

The  next  moment  Dorothy  was  in  her  father’s 
arms  and  all  the  sorry  lines  were  kissed  away. 
Perched  upon  his  shoulder,  she  greeted  her  friends 
in  her  own  sunny  way. 

“I  suppose,”  she  said  to  Mr.  Wright,  “I  did  not 
get  here  in  time  for  the  Christmas  Carols?” 

“Yes,  we  waited  for  you;  let’s  have  them  now, 
and  “father  dear,”  who  had  not  lifted  his  glorious 
voice  in  song  since  that  Christmas  eight  years  ago, 
led  the  singers: 

“It  came  upon  the  midnight  clear, 

That  glorious  song  of  old, 

Prom  angels  bending  near  to  earth 
To  touch  their  harps  of  gold.” 

Such  singing!  It  came  from  hearts  overflowing 
with  joy  and  gratitude. 

One  after  another  of  the  old  carols  pealed  forth, 
while  the  hearts  of  men  and  women  grew  kind  to* 


38  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

ward  all  the  world,  opened  wide  the  gates  that  the 
message  of  Christmas  might  enter  in. 

“God  rest  you,  merry  gentlemen, 

Let  nothing  you  dismay,” 

sang  the  happy  voices. 

‘•The  last  verse  once  more,”  said  someone: 

“Now  all  your  sorrows  He  doth  heal, 

Your  sins  He  takes  away; 

For  Jesus  Christ,  your  Savior, 

Was  horn  on  Christmas  day.” 


It  was  nearly  morning  when,  home  at  last,  in  her 
little  white  eider  down  gown,  Dorothy  sat  in  Jean- 
ie’s  lap — Jeanie,  whose  arms  had  ached  for  her. 

Warm  and  happy,  she  told  them  how  she  had 
stopped  to  play  with  Rings,  till,  bewildered  by  the 
snow,  she  had  run  in  the  wrong  direction,  felt  water 
dashing  over  her  feet,  and  then  she  had  climbed 
into  a boat  and  Rings  jumped  in  after  her;  the 
next  moment  a big  wave  had  carried  them  away 
into  the  blinding  storm. 

“It  was  cold  and  dark,  and  I began  to  be  fright- 
ened,” she  said.  “I  remembered,  ‘Thou  shalt  not 
be  afraid/  and  the  things  father  dear  and  Jeanie 
had  told  me.  So  I talked  to  God;  I told  Him  this 
was  a pretty  big  trouble  to  face,  and  asked  Him  to 
take  care  of  me,  and,  of  course,  He  did.  I began 


A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL.  39 

to  think  of  that  song— ‘Rocked  in  the  Cradle  of  the 
Deep’ : 

‘Secure  I rest  from  all  alarm, 

For  Thou  alone  hast  power  to  save.’ 

(Timothy  used  to  sing  it  to  Lois,  because  she  was 
afraid  of  the  sea),  and  then  I went  to  sleep.  When 
I waked  up  I was  at  the  lighthouse,  all  rolled  up 
in  a blanket.  Mrs.  Captain  Joe  was  holding  me  in 
her  lap  and  Captain  Joe  was  giving  me  some  hot 
milk  to  drink.  Rings  was  rolled  up  in  another 
blanket  close  by  the  fire.  He  looked  so  funny! 

“I  had  a lovely  time.  I saw  the  big  light.  Cap- 
tain Joe  says  it  is  Ms  Christmas  candle  shining 
through  all  the  year.” 


***«#-** 


Christmas  day  found  everyone  brimming  over 
with  joy.  Lois  was  very  happy  to  have  “a  real 
father  and  mother  of  her  own,”  though  she  confided 
to  “Father  Douglas”  that  she  “hadn’t  expected 
them  to  be  just  a strange  lady  and  gentleman.” 

Rings  was  the  hero  of  the  hour.  Everyone  knew 
now  how  he  had  barked  and  barked  and  so  guided 
the  searchers  to  Dorothy. 

The  Christmas  party  was  a merry  one.  The 
grown  people  who  had  gathered  to  witness  the 
“Santa  Claus  hunt”  and  help  with  the  games,  for- 
got their  years,  and  went  hurrying  about  in  search 
of  the  hidden  “gift.” 


40  A NEW  NOTE  IN  THE  CHRISTMAS  CAROL. 

It  turned  out  that  everyone  found  just  what  they 
wanted.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Stanley,  the  doctor,  and  Mr. 
Douglas  watched  the  fun  while  they  made  plans  for 
the  future  of  three  little  girls. 

Wearied  at  last,  the  merry-makers  gathered  about 
the  piano  and  listened  as  first  one  and  then  another 
sang  some  loved  song. 

One  good-night  song  they  begged,  and  Mr.  Doug- 
las, standing  in  the  mellow  light,  sang  as  no  one 
had  ever  heard  him  sing  before: 

“Then  be  ye  ylad,  good  people, 

This  night  of  all  the  year, 

And  light  up  all  your  candles, 

For  His  star  it  shineth  clear.” 


THE  END. 


